Superstitions About the Cock Stone or Alectorius Stones

The alectorius or "cock-stone" is one of the most famous of those real or supposed animal concretions that were known in ancient times. From the age of Pliny --and unquestionably long before his time-- there was a popular belief that this stone was only to be found in the gizzard of a cock which had been caponed when three years old, and had lived seven years longer. This was believed to allow the substance to acquire its boasted virtue, for the longer it remained in the body of the capon, the greater its power. Such a "cock-stone" never exceeded the size of a bean. From its association with the pugnacious fowl, the alectorius became a favorite stone with wrestlers, and the great and invincible Milo of Croton is said to have owned many of his victories to the possession of one, for if held in the mouth, it quenched the thirst and thus refreshed the combatant.

Many other virtues of this stone are recorded; it rendered wives agreeable to their husbands, dissolved enchantments, brought new honors and powers in addition to those already enjoyed, and helped kings to acquire new dominions. How persistent was the faith in the virtue of the alectorius is shown by the fact that the great astronomer Tycho Brahe greatly valued a stone of this kind, not larger than a bean, and believed that it brought him luck in gambling and in love. Thomas de Cantimpre says that the name signifies an allurer or enticer, because the stone excites the love of husbands for their wives. In order to secure the due effect it should be held in the mouth, possibly because this would render the wife less eloquent.

A specimen of the alectorius is listed in the inventories of Jean Duc de Berry (1401-1416). It is called there a "capon-stone" and is described as having red and white spots. Several other objects to which talismanic virtues were ascribed are also noted, such, for instance, as the "molar of a giant," set in leather; probably the tooth of a hippopotamus, or the fossil tooth of some antediluvian creature. There is also what is termed a "tester," composed of several "serpent's teeth" (glossopetrae?), horns of the "unicorn" (narwhal's teeth) and stones regarded as antidotes to poison. These were all suspended by golden chains, and were valued at seventy-five livres tournois.

As a companion piece to the "cock-stone," the hen furnished a concretion possessing special virtues. This came from the fowl's gizzard and was of a sky-blue color; its Arabic name was hajar al-hattaf. If it were worn by an epileptic, the attacks of his malady would cease; it favored procreation and also nullified the effects of the Evil Eye, and it kept children from having bad dreams if placed beneath their heads when they were sleeping. Thus the effects it was fancied to produce differed from those ascribed to the alectorius.